Protective device for high-potential systems.



No. 890,592. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908. R. APT.

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR HIGH POTENTIAL SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1906'.

Fig.1. Fig.2.

Inventor:

' rtt UNITED sures PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD APT, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,

A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FC lR-HIGH-POTENTIAL SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented-June 1c, 1908.

Application filed August 17, 190 6. Serial No. 330,974.

I '1 o w. w/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD APT, a subi'ect of the King of Prussia, residing at Berin, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protective Device for High-Potential Systems, of which the following is a specification.

Various devices have been proposed for V the protection of high potential systems, against atmospheric disturbances and injurious excess potential. According to common practice, the conductor to be protected is connected to ground'through a sparkgap and a resistance of such size that thedischarge current going to earth can attain a I high value. As an alternative rotective means, a resistance is inserted irectly in circuit from the high potential lead to earth, so that a current 'of a certain magnitude is always flowing off. Experience has shown that thcsafety of a system is grcater,fthe more varied the protective precautions em-' ployed; both the above mentioned "arrangements may therefore properly be employed. Protection thus insured, however, carries with it no inconsiderable cost, since two complete resistances are required.

According to "the present invention the two-necessary resistances are united in a single apparatus, thereby lessening the cost of the system. One of.these resistances serves as a current limiting resistance for the spark gap, while the other one is constantly a shunt to earth. The one constantly in cir- -cuit is of high resistance and lower current capacity than the one cooperating with the spark gap. The accompanying drawing shows an illus trativeembodiment of my invention.

Figure 1 is ,anelcvation of an apparatus v suitable for the protectionof a three-phase circuit; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same with certain of the parts broken awa Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on the line 3 3 0 Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the connections employed when the apparatus is used with a three-phase system.

The apparatus shown comprises a metal receptac e consisting of an upper cylindrical metal tank 1 and 'a lower metal tank 2 connccted .by a .tubular metal stand pipe 3. This receptacle is permanently connected to ground and contains a liquid of high resistance suchas ordinary tap water. A plurality ofglass tubes. connect the upper cylinder with the lower cylinder and contain li' .uid to serve as current carrying resistances. Three of these tubes, those numbered 4, 5 and 6, are of small cross-sectionand there fore of high resistance, while the other three tubes, numbered 7, 8 and 9, are of large cross section.

These couplings are m contact with tanks being .connected .bythe grounded metal stand pipe 3 are, of course, at ground- ,potential. he general arrangement of connections is shown in Fig. 4, in which the high resistance conductors 4, 5 and 6 are connected directly to line-conductors 11, 12 and 13,

. and the low resistance conductors 7, 8 and 9 are connected to these-line conductors by the spark aps 14, 15 and 16.

W hi e'the idealying atthe foundation of the invention is applicable to fluid resistance of any desired form, it is evident that those shown in the drawings are so arran ed that an automatic circulation of. the fluid takes place within the resistance members because of the heatin action of'the small amount of current whic constantly leaksv through to ground by way of the high resistance liquid columns 4, Sand 6. i

What I claim as new and desire to secure 9 by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1' The combination of a grounded receptacle, a column of li uid communicating therewith and connecte to a line conductor of an electrical system, and a. second liquid column of lower resistance connected be-' tween said receptacle and said line conductor throu h a spark gap.

2. Protective means for an electrical distribution system com rising a metal receptacle containing liquid a plurality of liquid columns held in separate tubes and connecting with said receptacle, and means for connecting said columns with separate conductors of the system to be protected.

.said liquid near the middle of said tube, and

means for providing an automatic circulation ofliquid through said tube.

4. A protective device which consists of a plurality of liquid columns held in nonconducting tubes and connecting with a common grounded receptacle, and means for connecting said 'colun'ins to separate electrical conductors'of the system to be protected.

' 5 The combination of a stand pipe con taining a high resistance liquid, a plurality of high resistance columns supplied with'liquid from said stand-pipe, a plurality of low resistance columns su plied with liquid from said standipe, an electrical connections for intermediate points on said columns.

6 Ina lightning arrester, the combination for said tank.

7. In a lightning arr-ester, the combination with a tank containing a resistance lluid, vertical columns connected at both ends to saidtank, a second set of columns communieating with said tank and supplied with liquid therefrom, and electrical connections for continuously passing electrical 'energy through said last named columns.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set i my hand this 2nd day of August, 1906.

RICHARD APT. Witnesses:

JULIUs RUMLAND, OSI-JUR LINGEs. 

